Hand truck axle interface hook shoe attachment

ABSTRACT

A shoe hook that attaches to a shoe for unloading a hand truck is provided. The shoe hook includes a body portions having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side. The front end may include a curved hook curving towards the rear end. The shoe hook is attached to a shoe. While unloading the hand truck, the shoe hook may be placed around the hand truck axle, and a user may pull the hand truck backwards using their foot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/785,123, filed Mar. 14, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hook attachment and, more particularly, to a hand truck axle interface hook that attaches to a shoe.

A hand truck, also known as a two wheeler, stack truck, trolley, trolley truck, sack barrow, sack truck, dolly, or bag barrow, is an L-shaped box-moving handcart with handles at one end, wheels at the base, with a small ledge to set objects on, flat against the floor when the hand-truck is upright. The objects to be moved are tilted forward, the ledge is inserted underneath them, and the objects tilt back and rest on the ledge. Then the truck and object are tilted backward until the weight is balanced over the large wheels, making otherwise bulky and heavy objects easier to move. However, carefully removing heavy objects from the hand truck adds strain and stress to a worker in order to prevent damage to the object.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that may be used to easily remove heavy objects from a hand truck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: a shoe comprising an upper and a sole; and a shoe hook attached to the shoe, wherein the shoe hook comprises a body portion having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end comprises a curved hook curved towards the rear end.

In another aspect of the present invention, a shoe hook comprises: a body portion comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side, wherein the front end comprises a curved hook curved towards the rear end, wherein the body portion comprises a plurality of openings slightly larger than shoelaces, wherein the body portion is sized to fit on an upper of a shoe.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of unloading a hand truck comprises: attaching a shoe hook to a shoe, wherein the shoe hook comprises a body portion comprising a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end comprises a curved hook curving towards the a rear portion of the shoe; placing the curved hook around a hand truck axle; and pulling the hand truck axle backwards and away from a load that is supported by the hand truck, thereby removing the load from the hand truck.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an perspective view demonstrating application of the present invention to a hand truck axle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view of the present invention shown attached to a shoe;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention shown being applied to the hand truck axle with multiple items not shown for illustrative clarity;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view demonstrating application of present invention to the hand truck axle;

FIG. 5 is a section detail view of the present invention along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention shown applied to the hand truck axle with multiple items not shown for illustrative clarity;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use pulling the hand truck from the load;

FIG. 8 is a section detail view of the present invention along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a shoe hook that attaches to a shoe for unloading a hand truck. The shoe hook includes a body portions having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side. The front end may include a curved hook curving towards the rear end. The shoe hook is attached to a shoe. While unloading the hand truck, the shoe hook may be placed around the hand truck axle, and a user may pull the hand truck backwards using their foot.

The present invention includes an attachment for a shoe that allows a hand truck to be removed easily from under a load. The present invention gives the worker a stable device that is attached to the worker's shoe that allows for grip and pull of hand truck. This alleviates slippage of the foot from hand truck. In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a solid aluminum piece cut to an approximate size of 3⅛ inches long and 2 inches wide. The aluminum may be rolled on one end to form a hook that may be about 9/16 inch inner diameter. Four holes may be drilled to attach to a shoe.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 12, the present invention includes a shoe hook 10. The shoe hook 10 includes a body portion having a front end 26, a rear end 28, a first side 30, and a second side 32. The front end 26 of the body portion may include a curved hook 12. The curved hook 12 may curve towards the rear end 28 of the body portion.

The present invention may further include at least one shoe 16. The shoe may include an upper, a sole, a front portion 36, a rear portion 34, shoelaces 18, and a tongue. The shoe hook 10 may be attached to the shoe 16. In certain embodiments, the shoe hook 10 may be attached to the upper of the shoe 16 near the tongue.

In certain embodiments, the shoe hook 10 may include a plurality of openings 14. The plurality of openings 14 may be slightly larger than shoelaces 18, so that the shoelaces 18 may fit within the openings 14. In certain embodiments, the present invention may include four openings 14. As illustrated in the Figures, a pair of openings 14 may be near the first side 30, and a pair of openings 14 may be near the second side 32. In such embodiments, the shoe hook 10 is secured to the tongue of the shoe 16 by shoelaces 18 running through the openings 14.

The present invention may be used to unload a load 24 from a hand truck 22. A method of unloading a hand truck 22 may include the following. The shoe hook 10 may be attached to the shoe 16. The curved hook 12 of the shoe hook 10 may be placed around a hand truck axle 20. The user wearing the shoe 16 may pull the hand truck axle 20 backwards and away from the load 24 using the shoe hook 10. The load 24 is thereby removed from the hand truck 22. In certain embodiments, when the shoe hook 10 comprises a plurality of shoelace openings 14, the method of attaching the shoe hook 10 to the shoe 16 includes securing the laces 18 of the shoe 16 within the plurality of openings 14.

The present invention may be made out of a solid material, such as a hard polymer or metal. For example, the present invention may be made of aluminum. The aluminum may be cut to size and then rolled into a lip at one end to create the device. Four holes may be drilled in the flat part on opposite ends to attach to a worker shoe/boot. The present invention may be attached to the shoe via the shoelaces. This is achieved by lacing through the four holes. The curled lip may be used to grab the hand truck axle, thereby allowing the worker to remove the hand truck from beneath the load.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a shoe comprising an upper and a sole; and a shoe hook attached to the shoe, wherein the shoe hook comprises a body portion having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end comprises a curved hook curved towards the rear end.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shoe hook is attached to the upper of the shoe.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shoe comprises a front portion, a rear portion, a tongue, and shoelaces wherein the curved hook is curved towards the rear portion of the shoe.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shoe hook comprises a first side and a second side.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shoe hook comprises a plurality of shoe lace openings on the first side and the second side, wherein the shoelaces of the shoe secure the shoe hook to the tongue of the shoe.
 6. A shoe hook comprising: a body portion comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side, wherein the front end comprises a curved hook curved towards the rear end, wherein the body portion comprises a plurality of openings slightly larger than shoelaces, wherein the body portion is sized to fit on an upper of a shoe.
 7. The shoe hook of claim 6, wherein the plurality of openings comprises four openings, a pair of openings on the first side, and a pair of openings on the second side.
 8. A method of unloading a hand truck comprising: attaching a shoe hook to a shoe, wherein the shoe hook comprises a body portion comprising a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end comprises a curved hook curving towards the a rear portion of the shoe; placing the curved hook around a hand truck axle; and pulling the hand truck axle backwards and away from a load that is supported by the hand truck, thereby removing the load from the hand truck.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the shoe hook comprises a plurality of openings.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein attaching a shoe hook to a shoe comprises the step of securing laces of the shoe within the plurality of openings. 